Jenni Morton is a journalist and author of several Saskatchewan history books. In “A Prairie Town Goes to War,” Morton chronicles her hometown of Dilke’s contributions to Canada’s World War II effort. Combining excerpts from wartime correspondence and journals, interviews with veterans, and secondary sources, she traces the experiences and fates of Dilke’s youths who fought overseas. Each chapter focusses on a particular branch of Canada’s forces – army, navy, and air force – or on a particular European front (from Italy to France to Holland). Stories range from humorous pranks to wide-eyed encounters in new countries, with moments of tragedy, heroism, fear, and optimism appearing throughout. While each soldier’s letters or recollections offer an individual perspective on the war, Mortin weaves their stories into a broad survey of WWII experiences.
